SCADA system module scrutinises plant performance
A
Copa-Data product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Nov 7, 2005
Automation software innovator Copa-Data has launched a new module for its Zenon SCADA system that analyses alarm data to identify increases in plant performance that can be made by reducing downtime.
Automation software innovator Copa-Data has launched a new module for its Zenon SCADA system that analyses alarm data to identify increases in plant performance that can be made by reducing downtime.
The Industrial Performance Analyser (IPA) module analyses alarm data statistically to determine weak points in a process.
In a complex machine or a manufacturing process, a SCADA alarm system is vital to alert operators to a stoppage or error.
Typical weak points could be a physical obstruction, a part failure or control system error.
Alarms are not just caused by the plant's hardware and maintenance demands, but also by user error.
The new module records alarm data and references it to a Zenon session so that an alarm can be traced back to a specific shift and operator.
This transparency means that plant management can take action to correct not only machine but also human error.
Manufacturers have found that it is difficult and time consuming to manually analyse such alarms and determine the 'missing link' that reduces productivity.
Now, with the powerful filtering functions of the IPA, the user can easily analyse shift productivity by choosing between gross and net production times.
This makes it possible to exclude shift breaks from the calculations and compare the actual, ideal, and unplanned production downtimes.
Control elements can be added to a standard Zenon operator interface using the built-in Zenon editor.
Indicators include a list of the top ten most frequent alarms - a common choice when commissioning a plant.
Other possibilities for visualisation include pie charts and bar graph performance indicators.
Markus Helbok, Product Manager Zenon commented: "Because IPA elements can be integrated into a Zenon picture, it has the same look and feel as any other Zenon operator interface and is easily set up".
"This reduces operator training and makes IPA a cost-effective and practical solution for finding faults and improving productivity".
IPA control elements also can be published in real time using the Zenon web server to a PC or other web access terminal without additional configuration or programming.
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